• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Tech 21 BDDI...

#21
Crabby said:
heres a question. Is the progeamable version worth the extra few bucks?

Our local Long & Mquade has a used pedal version for $120 and the programmable version is on sale new for $150. The programmable version looks bigger and maybe a bit more cumbersome to carry around in a gig bag.

I love the tone of the rig I have but can't shake the feeling that I should have one of these babies in my arsenal just in case.
Click to expand...
If I didn't already have a SABDDI, I'd get the new Para Driver DI. It has a semi-parametric mid and still has the Drive control. You lose the Blend and Presence controls. I leave the Blend all the way up on my SABDDI anyway, and Blend just adds highs. To me, the Mid control aces the need for the two knobs lost.
 
#22
90% of my sound is determined by my mid settings. Every gig I work (obviously) is different, but once I set up the sound for the night I seldom change it.

I generally set up volume bass & treble for the room (couple of minutes) first, and than tweak the mid for my signature.

I must have mid control.

I resisted purchasing the original Tech 21 because it did not have a midrange control. Similarly, with the programmable. When the Paradriver came out I jumped on it.

The Paradriver is the "missing link" I have been searching for for years! No matter how bad the room is, I can dial in the sound I want - the possibilities seem to be limitless. I usually go direct into a power amp.

If you need 3 different sounds throughout the gig then this is not the unit for you. If you want flexibility to adjust your sound to about anything you want, then the Paradriver is a must.
 
#23
I got the programable one a couple of days ago. It's only $10 more than the standard one. I used it at practice last night with an Alembic F1-X-EV Dynacord (200 watt)-Hartke 115XL setup. I dialed in 3 tones at home before I left. 1) Fender bassman, 2) Ampeg and 3) distortion (cross roads). I made sure the gain for each setting matched the bypass setting. At practice I first dialed in a a good clean (slowsong) tone on the F1-X and then used the other sounds as needed. This gives me 4 good usable tones at the tap of my foot. This thing is a real tool for working players.
 
#24
Crabby:

You may not know it, but I think you may have had an epiphany my friend!!

You are absolutley right that you do need to live with the SABDDI for a while to get your head around the concept that all the controls are active and that you do have mid control by backing off Bass and Treble. ;) ;) ;)

I confess to being a little underwhelmed by the pedal when I first got it but now, 7 years on, I would replace it like for like in a minute if it was stoled/lost/destroyed.:smug: :smug:

My sincere recommendation would be to do exactly as you suggest and live with one for a sustained period. I can virtually guarantee that, if you give it sufficient time, you will , like myself and so many others here and elsewhere, find in totally indispensable. :) :)
 
#26
BigMikeW said:
I actually stopped using an Eden Navigator in one rig.

The rig was:

Two RBI's with the footswitch, db166xl compressor, aphex aural exciter with big bottom to pump some HUGE tight lows out of the RBI's, into an Eden WT-1000 poweramp bridged at 4 ohms (1,000 watts) into two Eden 410XLT's.

Punishing.
Click to expand...

What do you mean by "with the footswitch?" ... do they have some built in way to toggle between 2 pres?

I LOVE my BDDI.
 
#27
Crabby said:
Hmmm I have actually purchased a SABDDI earlier this year and returned it after a day as the mid scoop tone was really frustrating. I play an SR5 and a passive Jazz bass and both sounded better to me wuth the pedal shut off than any setting I could come up with.

I feel like I'm missing something as these units are so popular. I admit the pedal had a cool sound but it just wanst doing it for me. I recently tried the XXL bass version pedal and was really disapointed with the fizzy sounding distortion.

I really want to try the Para driver but no one carries them around here and they are at least $100 more than the programable bass driver as its on sale this month. I hate trying to decide on something when I can't try it out first.

Maybe I just need to live with a SABDDI for a bit to appreciate it.
Click to expand...


I believe that "Flat" with the EQ knobs on those is pointed at the labels, which is considerably back from center. If you start with them at noon, its a significant scoop.

Also, you have to use the blend to dial in the amount of squizz you want. I never run 100% blend. 25-50% is plenty unless you're going for a tool-esque sound.
 
#28
They're great little boxes. FWIW, I just 'upgraded' to the programmable version.

You are absolutley right that you do need to live with the SABDDI for a while to get your head around the concept that all the controls are active and that you do have mid control by backing off Bass and Treble.
Click to expand...

+1. I wrestled with the mid-scoop for a long time until I discovered my ideal settings. Blend full-on, treble & presence full-off, bass barely on, drive at 12 o'clock.

Lots of phat speaker/valve emulation, no mid scoop. :-)
 
#29
pickles said:
What do you mean by "with the footswitch?" ... do they have some built in way to toggle between 2 pres?
Click to expand...

Yes. :) If you have two RBI's (or two RPM's, or RBI + RPM) you can toggle between them by connecting a footswitch to one, then a cable from the Footswitch Out of the first to the Footswitch In of the other.

I've been thinking of doing this for awhile now; I just haven't gotten around to getting an RPM or a second RBI.
 
#30
I enjoy mine a lot - I always bring it, even if I don't end up using it. It definitely sounds better with some basses than others.

I'm also in the boat of having a BDDI and wondering if it's worth selling it to upgrade to the Para Driver. Maybe someday, when I have extra green.
 
#31
wateroftyne said:
+1. I wrestled with the mid-scoop for a long time until I discovered my ideal settings. Blend full-on, treble & presence full-off, bass barely on, drive at 12 o'clock.

Lots of phat speaker/valve emulation, no mid scoop. :-)
Click to expand...

Interesting! I usually set all knobs to 11:00 or so. The important factor is that Blend is around 40-50%... this reduces the mid scoop. But reducing Blend also reduces the amount of tube emulation, so I'll have to try your way and see how it works.
 
#34
I appreciate all the comments. I am thinking I should just break down and buy one. Still undecided on which one tho. I would scoop the Paradriver if I actually saw one in person but like I say, they seem to run $100 more than the programmable version. Thats a lot of extra cake for the mid control. I'm one of those guys however that lives in the mids!

I tend to boost mids on everything, even my active preamps. Sure helps to cut through distorted guitars who insist on having brutal low end!!!!!!!! ooops but I digress.

Sounds like the bottom line is, you cant go wrong with any of San Amp options. I will update on which one I end up with.
 
#35
Fuzzbass said:
Yes. :) If you have two RBI's (or two RPM's, or RBI + RPM) you can toggle between them by connecting a footswitch to one, then a cable from the Footswitch Out of the first to the Footswitch In of the other.

I've been thinking of doing this for awhile now; I just haven't gotten around to getting an RPM or a second RBI.
Click to expand...



Yep. Like I said, Audiophiles don't like them but I love them.

I may still prefer it over the Eden and/or DB750 heads. PLUS, I can run this tone, exactly as I hear it in my amp, to the FOH.

Also, this means that a cab like an IP310 would be somewhat like an inexpensive Meyer montir rig.

I know a guy who has a deal with Aguilar. He ran a DB659, DB780 and a 412 cab. Last year he dumped the DB659 for the SansAmp RBI pre and his tone is much better.

Just something to chew on.
 
#36
pickles said:
I believe that "Flat" with the EQ knobs on those is pointed at the labels, which is considerably back from center. If you start with them at noon, its a significant scoop.
Click to expand...
I was under the impression that the EQ is +/-12dB, meaning that "noon" would yield a "flat" setting. I don't have the manual in front of me, though.......could someone please verify?

And FTR, I've found enough mids in the PBDDI by cutting the bass and treble. But, as always, try before you buy.
 
#37
teedub said:
I was under the impression that the EQ is +/-12dB, meaning that "noon" would yield a "flat" setting. I don't have the manual in front of me, though.......could someone please verify?

And FTR, I've found enough mids in the PBDDI by cutting the bass and treble. But, as always, try before you buy.
Click to expand...



Correct. NOON is flat/unity gain +-12db
 
#39
pickles said:
Sounds scooped to me at noon. Anyway ... want less scoop: cut bass and treble.
Click to expand...

Or just dial back the blend knob.

Slightly OT. I just picked up two gigs this afternoon on opposite sides of the OKC metro area for tonight. Unfortunately, I'll have a whopping 1 hour to pack up from the first show, drive approx. 20 miles, and then set up for the next. As much as I fuss over how the SABDI isn't really my tone at times, nights like this make me truly appreciate that little black box. No rig, all SABDDI into FOH.
 
#40
Im another one that just cant get along with the thing, the only sound i like is the one that sounds the same as when its off, i hae a good preamp in all my basses and a good di out on my trace amp, i wont gig without an amp and its kinda hissy and mid sucky and the distortion is just awful, like the guy said earlier i feel like im missing out on something being in such a massive minority of not liking the thing!
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back